dg_cain | To Melt A Heart 4/? (Reply)

Title- To Melt A Heart

Pairings-Cain/Dg

Warnings- None

Rating- pg-13

Disclaimer- Tin Man doesn’t belong to me!

Thanks to Nita, Jenny, and my wonderful sis Kate!

Previously–

Dg was slouched against Cain when felt a dark sense of forbidding. “Cain, stop the horse.”

Cain complied without delay. “What’s wrong princess?”

“I’m not sure, but something is.”

Jeb drew up alongside them. “Father?”

“Take Will and Cole and make a perimeter. We’re staying here for the night.” Cain helped Dg off the horse. “We’ll stay here until you feel it’s safe to move on.”

Dg nodded absently, but her mind was traveling searching for the source of her unease.

Cain grasped her wrist lightly and led her to Kate. “Watch her.”

“Come on Dg, let’s find you someplace to sit down.”

“I need to relieve myself.” Dg admitted but still her mind was searching desperately for the answer she craved.

“Let’s see if I can find you some privacy.”

*~*~*

It had been 20 minutes since Cain had left Dg with Kate. “Jeb, do you know where the girls went?”

“They went to the bathroom, but they should be back by now.”

“I’m going to go look for them.”

2 hours later and Cain still hadn’t found them.

AND NOW-

Dg felt the darkness getting closer and closer as she stood perfectly still, shadowed by a tree. She hadn’t really needed to go to the bathroom, she just needed an excuse to get closer to the source that was sending rippling chills down her spine.

Kate had looked at her funny, but otherwise hadn’t done anything to stop her silent vigil. Biting down hard on her lip, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Focusing, she searched through the twisted pathways in her mind, seeking the source of the darkness.

With all her new convoluted powers, she should’ve been able to find whatever it was that was making her loopy. She felt Kate stiffen beside her and Dg knew that she didn’t need to look any further for the darkness, because it had found her, maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to leave Cain’s side.

She didn’t open her eyes to look even though she knew she would soon hear the words that would seal her fate; she could only blame herself for it had been a stupid mistake.

“When a princess and a lone resistant fighter, not to mention women, travel in the woods alone, it is a very dangerous thing. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?”

Dg opened her eyes slowly and didn’t speak right away. She observed idly that the voice oozing from the dark presence had honey tones, and if she weren’t looking at the man she would have never guessed the voice belonged to him. Her eyes roved over him as she sized up her opponent and her chances of getting out of this disaster alive. There were three men standing before her, but at the moment she focused on the center one. He was a giant in his own right, standing nearly 6’7”. Dg wasn’t sure she had seen any man so impossibly tall; his height was enough to strike fear into the heart of any man, let alone DG. His face was hardened with years of anger and bitterness and was lined with cruel intentions. His eyes were the ones you would associate with a serial killers'; they swirled with psychotic and secret intentions, they left you wondering just exactly how unhinged the person was. His hair fell to his shoulders in a curtain of coal black and his muscles bulged in a no nonsense way. Dg had a sudden intense feeling that one of them wasn’t going to make it out of this mess alive.

She could tell the men were getting edgy and impatient by her silence but she paid no mind. Dg turned her attention to the two hyenas with him. They were flanking his sides and both were standing a few steps back. The one on the right was a burly monster she certainly had no desire to ever get in a tangle with. He had a long scar running from his cheek to his eyebrow and his eyes were a creepy pale green. Her face remaining passively neutral she glanced to the man’s left and did a double take. The third member of the group was unmistakably Zero. As soon as the question of how did he get out of the tin suite register she saw a picture of his release. Grimacing internally Dg’s eyes narrowed. By what she could sense Zero had a strange desire to help her, but what she knew of him made her suspicious. Zero and she hadn’t exactly gotten along in the past, but Dg couldn’t very well ignore the niggling feeling that she needed to trust him.

Kate stiffened beside her probably preparing to attack even though they were hopelessly outnumbered. Knowing that an attack would only end in useless bloodshed, she moved slowly so she wasn’t shot and placed a hand on Kate’s arm halting her imperceptible motion.

“What can we help you gentlemen with?”

The man in the middle spoke again. “Let’s not bullshit around here. I know enough about you to know you can sense that were not here for a social call.”

Dg’s eyes strayed to Zero as she measured him up. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but he was here for a special purpose. Eyes still magnetically attached with his, she didn’t pay much heed to the man she could only suppose was the leader.

“Yes, beating around the bush was never really my style.” Dg decided that Cain’s experiences with Zero were not the true testimonies and actions of the man that now stood before her. Somehow she was going to have to protect the man that few really saw, and if they ever made it back to Cain she was going to have a hell of a job explaining… but that was a problem for another time. She turned her body slightly and rested her eyes on the ‘leader’. “What exactly do you want from me?”

The man smiled his teeth glinting wickedly in the growing darkness. “Personally I want your blood, and would love nothing more than to spill it unceremoniously to the ground. Unfortunately that’s not what my boss wants. He sees a potential in you that I just don’t get. Apparently what happened to the viewers is going to be nothing compared to what we’re going to do to you, Princess.”

Princess sounded dirty and vile coming from his mouth, nothing close to the melody it sounded like when it came from Cain. Nails digging into Kate’s arms, she kept the too brave woman from lunging. She wasn’t about to lose her new friend, and especially not at the hands of these monsters.

“Your going to have to fight for every drop of my blood, I don’t part with what’s mine easily, but then again your just the errand boy so what really do I have to fear?” Dg goaded, eyes lighting up dangerously. Kate’s astonished gaze whipped from Dg to their enemies. “It grates at you doesn’t it, Marcus.” Dg was delighted when he became openly startled when she called him by his name. “Yes, it grates at you when you realize your nothing.”

Marcus’s fists clenched and Zero looked worriedly from him to Dg. The woman was a reckless spitfire and she wasn’t willing to cave in for anything.

“Careful, Marcus.” He warned softly so his voice only carried to the man he was talking to. “The boss wants her alive.” Zero was almost positive Dg heard his soft-spoken words by the way her head tilted and how her eyes flashed to his. Marcus’s teeth ground together.

“That doesn’t mean she can’t be damaged.”

“Dg, what are you doing?” Kate whispered in horror when she realized Dg’s intent. If she got Marcus mad enough he wouldn’t be able to focus while she found a way to escape.

Dg didn’t answer but smiled deliberately again as she pulled Kate slightly behind her, which was difficult because Kate kept moving to stand in front of her. Once she had secured Kate, she faced Marcus boldly. If she could stall him long enough maybe Cain would realize they were missing and come looking.

“You can hit me as many times as you damn well please, but I can tell you one thing.” She paused waiting for dramatic effect as her mind screamed, STALL! STALL! STALL! “I will still know what you want no man to know. I know your secret.”

Zero’s eyes slid closed in agony. He really wished Dg would stop prodding at Marcus; the man was a keg ready to blow. He doubted that even if he had the freedom to stop Marcus he would be unable to once he got on a rampage.

Marcus stepped forward threateningly and towered over Dg’s petite form. Zero winced, noticing how tiny she looked next to Marcus, but he also noted she didn’t cower she stood tall and without fear.

Filtering a little bit of magic into the hand that was holding Kate she kept the woman behind her with magic enhanced strength. No way was she was letting Kate get into the middle of something she had provoked. It’s just going to be a few punches Dg, no sweat. Just stall long enough for Cain to realize your missing. Just a little longer, he’s bound to go on overprotective mode and go searching.

“You can’t beat me, bitch.”

Dg smiled bravely up at him. “How could you possibly know that bastard, your not the seer, I am.”

Zero bit down on his tongue to prevent from calling out. Why was Dg being such an idiot? He couldn’t stop Marcus, not if he eventually wanted to get her out of this alive. He winced when Marcus’s meat fist contacted with the soft skin under her eyes. He cringed as Marcus continued to pound on Dg, but he couldn’t help but have a new admiration for her. She didn’t flinch under the onslaught, and she kept a hand on the other woman keeping her in place behind her the entire time. Adding to the fact the other woman fought like made the entire time to get in-between Dg and Marcus.

Zero’s teeth ground together as he dug his heels into the ground to keep from springing forward and intervening. With a quick glance over at Brett he knew he was going to receive no help from him, he was enjoying the show. Wildly, Zero twisted back to the scene that was unfolding before him.

“Marcus.” He called softly, going through great pains to keep his voice humble and subservient. The will it was taking to keep from screaming at Marcus to stop was making his voice rough and his throat raw.

Dg’s eyes flashed up to Zero’s in a clear warning that he couldn’t mistake. Don’t.

When Marcus finally stumbled away his fury appeared Zero took his first gasp of air, he hadn’t realized until then that he had been holding his breath. He watched as Dg swayed unsteadily but somehow managed to stay standing. The heart he hadn’t realized he had clinched painfully at the sight of the brave beauty.

Dg wiped at the blood on her lip while keeping her other hand firmly on the livid Kate.

“Don’t even think about.” Dg ordered quietly, but her eyes never swayed from Zero’s as he ran through scenarios of rescue in his head. Dg realized sadly that Cain wasn’t going to be able to find them before they were long gone.

“Brett, Zero, get the horses.” Marcus demanded. “We need to get as far away from here as possible before the Cains are aware of their disappearance.”

Zero and Brett came back a few minutes later leading three horses. Kate and Dg’s wrists were tied together so tight Dg feared loss of circulation. Kate was thrown on the saddle with Brett and Dg could see the look of desperation flit across her face. Before Marcus could move, Zero shouldered forward and put Dg on his mount, and miraculously, Marcus didn’t comment. He just mounted his own horse. Satisfied he could protect her for now, he swung up behind her and moved so she was shelled closer to his body. The movement wouldn’t aggravate her new injuries. The extraordinary part was, Dg didn’t flinch away from his touch.

Not resisting his protective stance Dg waited until they were on the way to talk to him so they weren’t easily overheard.

“I’ll be fine. It was just a few punches, been in worse fights. Of course then I got to swing back.” When she felt him tense behind her she hastened to repeat soothingly, “I’m fine.”

“Your lip is split, your face is already turning black and blue, and you have a cut under your right eye that has got to sting. I don’t even want to imagine about the condition of your ribs. Would you consider all that I’ve named okay?” Zero asked heatedly keeping his voice low.

Dg chuckled lightly. “Don’t be so concerned, it will cast unwanted suspicion upon you. As I said earlier I’m fine and you don’t need to worry about me.”

Zero delicately wrapped his arm tighter around her waist to keep her steady in the saddle, and glared at the back of Marcus’s head. He was the man that had done this to her.

“Why are you so concerned about me?” Zero questioned, brows drawn together in honest confusion.

Dg’s head fell back so that the crown of her head rested against his chest and she could meet his eyes. “Because I can see you.”

*~*~*

That night, Dg and Kate sat huddled together, desperately trying to get warm. Nights in the Oz were unbearably cold, and Dg now longer had the warmth of Cain’s duster, nor the man himself for that matter. They still hadn’t made it to their intended destination when the suns had fallen so Marcus reluctantly stopped them for the night. It was implied that they would reach where they were going sometime tomorrow. Due to Marcus’s order Zero had grudgingly confiscated Dg’s pencils and paint that she had on her, and she had no idea where her sketchbook had disappeared to, which irked her because she was starting to feel iciness creep upon her again.

Dg managed to shove away the feeling momentarily, but with great difficulty. Fighting past the heaviness in her chest, she gasped for some much-needed air. It was becoming harder and harder to breathe and Dg knew without a doubt that she couldn’t stop the inevitable from happening. Looking around desperately, she caught sight of Brett and Marcus in an argument over he last of the coffee, Kate chewing on the ropes binding her, and lastly she spied Zero watching her anxiously.

Her smile was trembling at best and it wasn’t doing much to assure Zero that she was all right.

Dg fought against the icy tentacles, but it was a losing battle. Wrapping her arms tightly around herself she tried to block out the icy state. She couldn’t go through this now, she just couldn’t. She needed to stay clear-headed and figure out a way to get Kate, Zero, and herself free. She didn’t have time for the stupid Oz trance-y things.

Zero inched closer slowly, eyes trained on the extremely pale Dg. It almost looked like she was glowing a pure crystalline white. She was hard to look at because she was throwing off light in a sparkling dazzle. Zero threw a quick glance at Marcus and moved a little closer to where Dg sat.

Dg pressed her hands against her eyes and moaned softly, unable to stop the show of weakness.

The soft moan instantaneously captured Kate’s attention. “Dg, honey, are you alright?” Kate inquired, worry marring her brow.

“I’m seeing too much. I need my sketchbook and…and pencils.” First icy vacancy slipped upon her, and when she was unable to let the horror be dispelled by her fingers, the pain came.

“Deeg, tell me what I can do for you.” Kate begged as she scooted closer to where Dg lay curled into a ball. Kate placed a light hand on her shoulder blade, but the touch on her ultra sensitive skin only made her cry out in agony.

Clutching her head, she curled tighter and moaned a cry of inhumane pain.

“Kate…please Kate. I need a sketchbook…or…or… SOMETHING!” The pain tore at her and the overwhelming emotions were ripping her to shreds. The images wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t control them, they just kept repeating in a never-ending whirlwind of colors and horrors. “Please.” She whimpered while tears streamed down her face.

Nearly hyperventilating herself, Kate drug the shuddering Dg into her arms and rocked her back and forth. Dg was clawing at her own skin, trying to swim back to sanity.

“I’m sorry honey.” Kate cried, tears clouding her vision. “I don’t know what to do.”

Zero, who had witnessed the entire scene couldn’t take it anymore. Seeing that Marcus and Brett had dozed off, he dashed for his saddlebag. He snatched the first pencils that his fingertips grazed and the sketchbook that had earlier been dropped by Dg. He hadn’t realized until then how much she had needed it, he was only glad he had thought to grab it. Keeping a trained eye on the other two men, he inched closer to the girls. Kneeling beside them he handed the items to Dg.

Dg’s water filled eyes peered up at Zero as her greedy hands took the gift he offered. She began a mad dash of sketching to dispel the pictures. Without looking up, she whispered huskily.

“I knew you had good inside of you.”

Zero’s heart clutched as it started to beat faster the vein in his neck throbbing with each staccato heartbeat. What had this young slip of a girl seen inside of him? It had taken him years to realize he may have something good left inside of him, but it was a notion he had yet to act upon. In fact even now it was something he wasn’t quite sure he had any more. Eyes tightly shut in torment he spoke slowly and softly.

“You’re wrong.”

The blue color pencil halting on the page Dg took the time to look up at the man she felt such a tie to. For some reason Zero and her had a bond, a strange heart connection that couldn’t be severed, but there was one thing they had to get straight if they were going to figure out what was going on.

“There is one thing you should remember Michael. I am never wrong.”

Zero openly gaped at her, but not because she had told him she was never wrong. She had called him Michael; people hadn’t called him that in many years, perhaps because that man no longer existed.

Unable to stop the quaking in her body she ignored it as she lifted her shaking hand to cup his cheek. The overflow of magic in her veins was causing her to shake so bad she probably looked like she was going through convulsions. She hoped Michael didn’t notice.

“You have to help me, Michael.” Her pleading was underlined with panic, desperation, and just plain tiredness. She had given up resisting the pull of the Oz, she was a conduit and she knew it. “I have to get back to Cain. I need the rest of my supplies. I need to know that they’re all okay. I-I’m to far away I can’t be certain, there’s too much going on-” Hysteria overtook her features as she tried to see if her men were all right. Her mind was working to fast, and so much stuff going on she couldn’t focus, couldn’t think. Her eyes dove up to meet his sympathy filled. “I need Cain. Michael, I need Cain.” She finally admitted painfully, face frozen in shock.

Zero’s eyes roved back and forth as he searched her face. He couldn’t help but wonder how far the relationship between Dg and his old nemesis had progressed. From the looks of it the two had gone beyond simple friendship to something much, much more. For all the things he had done to Cain he knew he needed to give him something back at least. Maybe this was his chance, a truce offering. Even if it hadn’t been for his debt to Cain, he couldn’t leave Dg here to suffer Marcus’s punishments… and if he didn’t intervene, his boss. That and the fact the raw panic in her eyes told him that she did indeed need Cain soon or she would fall apart. Zero was on the verge of asking her to trust him when he caught sight of her companion.

Kate’s fingers were sliding through Dg’s hair comfortingly as she eyed Zero with barely hidden disgust. Flinching away Zero returned his gaze to the momentarily paused Dg.

“Do you trust me Dg?”

Dg’s hand trailed down to rest on his heart. “With my life.” She answered honestly not reacting when Zero choked up and tears entered his eyes.

Eyes burning with rage Kate took Dg’s hand and removed it from Zero. With a hand to Dg’s jaw she made Dg meet her eyes.
“Remember who you are talking to Dg.” She hissed. “Maybe he’s the one orchestrating all of this. I mean, what really do you know about his intentions?” Kate turned fiery eyes to his. “What do you want?” She spat, holding Dg closer to herself.

Unable to speak, Zero rose to leave, but Dg stopped him with a hand on his arm. Without taking her eyes from Zero’s downcast face she replied to Kate’s question.

“He’s not the same man anymore, Kate. The man you see before you is Michael, not the man you knew as Zero. I can see his heart, so if you can’t trust him, then you will just have to trust me.”

Kate swallowed her angry words. “I do trust you Dg.” She whispered.

Dg gave Kate a hug. “I know this is difficult, but I can’t yet explain to you what is going on… because I’m not sure myself.”

Turning back to Zero, she cupped his chin again. “What do you propose we do to get out of here?”

She felt Zero shudder under her touch, and she knew it wasn’t because of her cold hands. “Your not who they say you are Michael. You’re not a killer, and you are not heartless. You were just lost for a little while.”

Zero flinched. It was easier to meet Kate’s hatred then Dg’s overwhelming love and compassion. “I just don’t know anymore.” He rasped.

Dg tenderly pushed the hair off of his forehead. “As I said before, I am never wrong.” Waiting for him to nod she continued. “Will you please help me get back to Cain?”

Dg was probably the only one in the entire world who believed in him, and he couldn’t let her down. “I swear I will.”

“You swear you will what?” Marcus asked from behind Zero his voice deadly low.

Kate, Dg, and Zero’s head all snapped up to look at Marcus and then each other.

Zero spun on his heel and glanced up keeping the murderous hatred from his eyes. “Nothing.” He muttered. Standing he tried to brush past Marcus without incident, but if it came down to it, he would be the victor.

Marcus slammed the heel of his hand against Zero’s chest keeping him stationary. “Where are you off to?” Marcus growled his eyes narrowing.

“What’s the big deal Marcus?” Zero inquired keeping his face expressionless.

The flash of a picture of Michael dead and motionless sent Dg stumbling to her feet against the better wishes of Kate. “Leave him alone.” She cried.

She was all the distraction Zero needed. He swept an arm out and knocked Marcus to his back. Before the big man could retaliate Zero had his gun aimed at Marcus’s face. Grabbing the gun from Marcus’s holster and tossed it to Kate. “Put a gun on Brett before he decides to do something stupid. Dg, get some rope from my saddlebag.”

The women immediately did as they were told and in less than five minutes both Marcus and Brett were gagged and tied to a tree.

“We need to get out of here while we can.” Seeing that Dg was standing perfectly still and just staring blankly ahead he figured she wasn’t safe on a mount by herself. Grabbing all of Dg’s strewn out art supplies he stuffed it back into his saddlebag. “Mount up, Kate.” He ordered and she did so without comment, the hatred inside of her already spent. Zero helped the stony Dg onto his horse and then when he saw Kate still hadn’t mounted helped her. She gave him a soft thank you, but didn’t look into his eyes.

Dg watched with vacant eyes. When they had started off and were a ways away Zero leaned down and whispered into her ear. “Are you okay?”

“When I see that Cain is okay... Cain, Jeb, Will, Cade, Sheppard, and Cole. I just need to know that they are okay.”

Zero rubbed her goose bumped arms briskly trying to warm her up. When that didn’t seem to work, he drug off his coat and wrapped it around her chilled and pulsating form. “We’ll be there soon. You’ll see Cain soon.”

Dg’s stricken eyes collided with his. “Thank you.”

Zero grimaced. “I’ve done nothing.”

“You-” Dg was interrupted when a bullet flew out and impacted with Zero causing him to tumble off the mount. “MICHAEL!”